Blaize Talagi has played alongside the best playmakers in the business – here’s what they taught him

From State of Origin halves, to international stars, and the best up-and-coming maestros in the game, Blaize Talagi has not only watched, but played with them all – here he dishes the dirt on Cleary, Luai, Moses, Galvin and more.

It’s arguably the best playmaking apprenticeship in the NRL.

From State of Origin halves, to international string-pullers, and then the best up-and-coming maestros in the game, Blaize Talagi has not only watched, but played with them all.

All before turning 21 years of age.

And having also overcome some early-season adversity with the four-time reigning premiers, Talagi is now primed to make his mark on a dynasty that looked over two months ago.

In a wide-ranging interview with this masthead ahead of his second clash against former club Parramatta, Talagi also opened up on a frightening lung scare that required surgery.

It was during an NSW under-18s City-Country game in 2023 that Talagi was rushed to hospital urgently requiring surgery on a collapsed lung.

But it was only when in the operating theatre that doctors discovered something else.

“There was something on my lung, like a (congenital) cyst. They reckon it’s always been there, and common in young, skinny boys,” Talagi said.

“The timing of it, it was pretty lucky.

“It was pretty scary on the field, as I had played on with the collapsed lung. It wasn’t until we got the scans that the doctors had a look and something else burst as well.”

But it didn’t stop from Talagi from quickly bursting onto the NRL scene.

That City team was skippered by halfback Latu Fainu and also boasted Westsfield Sports High teammate Lachlan Galvin, who was in the second row.

“I played a lot of footy with Lachie, especially at school. Me and him, we’re similar, just off the cuff, see what we play, play what we see, eyes up, take the opportunity,” Talagi said.

Of Fainu, he said: “He’s a great ballrunner and does everything at speed.

“He’s starting to come good and he’s always been that sort of player, just that gun on the field and I’m really glad to see him doing well now.”

Galvin went on to announce himself as the next big thing when he made his NRL debut in last year’s season-opener for the Wests Tigers.

Two weeks later Talagi made a tryscoring debut of his own in the centres for the Eels, where he spent the season alongside Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.

“(Moses) definitely demands a lot and it’s good for the team. His kicking game too. You know what to expect from him and he’s definitely another top player in the comp,” he said.

But, like Galvin’s move to the Bulldogs, Talagi also opted to leave his junior club, stepping into the premiership-winning hole left by Jarome Luai.

Blaize Talagi has nine try assists for the Panthers from 11 games so far in 2025. Picture: Getty Images

The two combined in the halves for Samoa against England later in the year.

“Romey’s a unique player. He’s special at what he does. He just creates something out of nothing, you know?” Talagi said of the Samoan captain.

His arrival at the foot of the mountains came with some confusion, with the Panthers originally considered to be eyeing his younger brother Ryda, possibly as a package deal.

However Ryda, currently playing Jersey Flegg, has since recommitted to the Eels.

“I can tell he likes Penrith, even though he’s at Parra,” said Blaize, whose dad played rugby union under the father of Eels utility Joash Papalii.

“He’s always going to support me at the end of the day. He’s going real good over there though. I’m pretty tough on him, he just looks up to me a little bit.”

Blaize was forced to bide his time under Ivan Cleary in the new year, overlooked over the opening five rounds before finally being given the No.6 jumper alongside Nathan in Rd 6.

“Looking back, it was probably one of the best things for me,” Talagi said.

“For me just to be able to bide my time, do my work until I was ready to get that start. It was a bit hard in the moment, obviously I wanted to play, but it was the best thing.

“As time’s gone on, it’s definitely starting to flow now.”

Originally published as Blaize Talagi has played alongside the best playmakers in the business – here’s what they taught him